Historical Film Footage

German and Soviet forces partition Poland

Bug River, Poland, September 1939

[Silent, 0:20]

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 Imperial War Museum - Film Archive

The German-Soviet Pact of August 1939 included a nonaggression pact whereby Germany and the Soviet Union promised not to attack one another for 10 years. Germany was thus able to invade Poland on September 1, 1939, without fear of Soviet intervention. In accordance with secret provisions of the pact, Poland was partitioned between Germany and the Soviet Union. Soviet forces occupied eastern Poland. In this footage, German and Soviet forces meet along the Bug River in central Poland. Less than two years later, in June 1941, Germany broke the agreement and invaded the Soviet Union.